26

May

Court orders pupil (18) to dump girlfriend

Sukoluhle Ndlovu
An 18-year-old high school pupil from Chirumanzu area in the Midlands Province was ordered to perform community service after he was convicted of impregnating his 14-year-old girlfriend before ordering her
to terminate the pregnancy.

Simbarashe Chirimuta, a pupil at Mushandirapamwe High School in Chirumanzu was sentenced to perform 105 hours of community service on his own plea of guilty to statutory rape.

Passing sentence, Gweru magistrate Judith Taruvinga said cases of teenage pregnancy were becoming common and teens were taking them for granted.

a�?What I find aggravating is the fact that you wanted her to commit abortion and risk taking her life in the expense of your carelessness,a�? she said.

a�?You are sentenced to six months in jail of which three months are suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour, the remaining three months are suspended on condition you perform community service.a�?

Taruvinga also ordered Chirimuta to immediately end the relationship with the complainant and concentrate on his school work.

a�?I am ordering you to cut any ties with the complainant and I advise you to focus on your school work,a�? she said.

Prosecuting Pride Gomera told the court that sometime in January and February this year, the accused had sexual intercourse with the complainant with her consent.

When the complainant missed her menstrual period, she told Chirimuta who then insisted on her terminating the pregnancy but she refused.

He said Chirimutaa��s family refused to accept the complainant into their home causing complications for the complainanta��s family.

The matter was then reported to the police by the complainanta��s family, leading to Chirimutaa��s arrest.